Moistener for internal-combustion engines.



L. A. vocum & w. A; LEWIS. MOISTENER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-I9. I916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

- and thus increase the efiiciency of such en'- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

moomw A. YocuIzI Ann WILLIAM A. IinwIs, or woosmna, OHIO.

MOISTENEB FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'7, 191 *7.

Application filed June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,605.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, .LINCOLN and WILLZAM A. LEWIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Wooster, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Moistener for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines. Its main object is to provide improved means for producing and supplying moisture to, the cyl inders of such engines, and its condensation and transmission from waste gases in the exhaust pipe to the chambers of the cylin-. ders, automatically, to give greater elasticity to the exploding gases within the cylinders,

It consists of the novel means set forth for securing and utilizing the exhaust gases pass-' ing through the exhaust pipe to facilitate and increase the explosion in the cylinders by withdrawing and condensing a part of said gasesand conveying and mixing the resultant fluid therefrom with the usual intake mixtures, conveying the fluid to the -usual hot-air intake pipe, and thence to the carbureter, where and- Whereby it is combined with the explosive mixture, whether from gasolene, kerosene, alcohol or other explosiv compounds ordinarily used in in ternal combustion engines, or which-may be so used for the purpose. It further consists of the novel means set forthhereafter, comprising the use of condensing coils, .as of a still, with suitable nipples connecting such coils with the exhaust pipe, in such manner as to convey gases escaping therethrou-gh to the intake manifold, where the greatest number of convolutions of coils arelocated, and thence conveying the condensed fluid or spray therefrom to the hot-air intake ing them readily accessible for inspection or a removal, all as hereinafter fully set ,forth and stated in the appended claims. I

Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts.

Referring thereto, Figure 1 is a side ele A. YoooM and thence to the carbureter, and' vation of a part of an ordinary internal combu'stionv engine, as 'used in automobiles, deemed sufficient to illustrate our "invention, which is embodied therein, thecover plate of theintake manifold thereof being reca'rbureterbeing also cut away as unnecessary for the purpose. I 7

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the cover plate 'removed from the intake manifold-shown air'intake pipe, leading from the adjacent end L of the exhaust 'pipe B, by the usual and well known connection S. The usual exhaust vents are indicated by the letters a a; and the vents for gases leading into the cylinder chambers G are indicated by the letters I) b; n n are apertures for the admission of threaded bolts to secure the cover. plate G solidly in position'upon the fitted surface of the intake manifold, the apertures m m of the former, registering with the corresponding aperturesn n of thelatter, in the usual well known way of securing plates together so as to leave the interior thereof hollow, and. admit of access thereto, at pleasure.

H is a small diameter pipe connected to the exhaust pipe B by a nipple c, and leading downwardly to one of the pipes leading from the upper part of the intake manifold D, to which it is solidly connected through the perforation d in the cover plate thereof, by means of the threaded nipple d, and also to the pipe P within the hollow of the manifold; WV is an extended convolution of coils of pipe of like diameter tothe pipe P, with which it connects at its top, and thence extends downwardly through the hollow of the intake manifold to near its lower end, where it terminates and passes out through the aperture e of the plate G to which it is solidly connected by a threaded nipple c, and to the extension pipe I, which connects with the lower end of the hot-air intake pipe F by a threaded nipple f. a

moved for better illustration, part of the V used on such engines; and F, the usual hot-- It is apparent that by the removal of the i cover plate G froin the front surface of the intake manifold D, and disconnecting the said nipples of the pipe, access is obtained thereto as they pass to the cylinders, the

means for accomplishing this desired result will be readily understood without a showing of other operative parts of an internal combustion engine, or explaining the functions of carburetors and intake manifolds and hot air intake pipes, cylinder chambers, and vents connected therewith for passage of gases, in the usual and well known way. Our device is connected therewith in such manner that it may be employed in anyof the different forms and kinds of internal combusbustion engines in common use. Its location and connections are such, as to utilize suflicient of the waste moisture which usually escapes through the exhaust pipe by force of theexplosions, the intense heat generated thereby converting such moisture naturally into superheated steam, which rushes outwardly through the nipple c and I thence through the pipes H and P and passes through the coil convolutions W located within the hollow of the intake manifold,'as aforesaid, and is therein condensed 40 sufficiently by the draft of air and explosive mixtures which envelop said coils in passage from the carbureter to the cylinder chambers, to form a spray which is drawn therefrom through the pipe I into the hot air intake F, where the moisture therefrom is automatically mixed with the explosive mixtures on their way to the cylinder chambers, as aforesaid. The passage of said moisture from the exhaust pipe B to the hot air intake pipe F is indicated by the arrows l l, and the direction of the 'passage of the moisture taken intothehot air intake pipe F, and thence through the intake manifold to the cylinder chambers, is indicated by the arrows 2 2.'

Thus the passage of the moisture is seen to be entirely automatic, and its generation and flow commences as soon as the engine starts, and contributes a constant supply from what has heretofore gone to waste.

Having thus fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is' 1. In an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder chambers, an inintake manifold, of a slender pipe having a plurality ofcoils within said hollow, a like pipe joined to said coils and to the rear 30 part of the exhaust pipe of the explosive engine, nipples at the ends of said. connecting pipe'to detachably secure its connections,

a like pipe joined to. the opposite end of said coils and to the hot air intake pipe of the 5 engine, nipples at the ends of said connecting pipe to detachably secure said unctions, and means for opening and closing the body of said intake manifold to receive said coils and secure the same gas tight therein, substa ntially as set forth.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a self moistening device for conveying moisture to the cylinders thereof, comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust pipe of the engine to. the hot'air intake thereof, in its course passing through the intake manifold of the engine in a series of coils suspended within the hollow bodV of said manifold, andmeans for opening and closing said body to receive 1 said coils, substantially as set forth.

'4. In aninternal combustion engine, a device for automatically conveying moisture to the cylinders thereof with its explosive mixtures, comprising a slender pipe having a plurality of coils inclosed withinthe hollow body of its intake manifold, and connected outwardly at one end with an opening into theexhaust pipe of the engine, and outwardly at the opposite end with an opening into the hot air pipe thereof.

5. In an engine of the class described, a device for automatically taking moisture from the products of combustion in process of escaping as exhaust gases,- and liquefying the latter, and conveying the liquid as a spray to the intake explosive mixtures, and thence to the cylinder chambers of the engine, comprising a gas conducting pipe having a series of convolutions within the hols 12 0 low body of the intake manifold, and ex-' tensions therefrom, at one end, to an opening into the exhaust pipe of the engine, and

at the other, to an opening into the hot air intake pipe and carbureter'of the engine, substantially as set forth.

6, In an engine of the classdescribed, a self moistening device for conveying and liquefying escaping exhaust, gases, comprising a gas pipe having a series of convolutions inclosed within the 1101101? body Of 6113 intake manifold, .and connected pipe es-y tensions to ti exhaust pipe and L0 the hot air intake pips, resltiectiveiy of the sngiiis,

In an of the class 5: d vice for liquefying and convey 0 ing exhaust gases to'tha cylinde: chambers" s exhaust pipe and the 'lllbfllGtBl 0:2

" *psL-ibwely substantially as i s for removably messing have hsreuirm set flay A. D. 1 916 of she engine autematissfi Cf g-a gas pipe having series of coils inciosed Within the holicw pf manifold, said coils =23 both ends by pipes lea.--

Gapies of this patent may be sbtaine 

